Fort Connah, Montana, courtesy Fort Wiki.
Fort Connah, Montana, the southernmost post of the Hudson’s Bay Company, was established in the summer of 1846 by Neil McArthur as the Flathead Indian post. It was named after the Scottish River, Conon. Located in the Mission Valley, the trading post, which consisted of three buildings, was built by Angus McDonald and his assistant George Simpson Jr. in 1847.
Angus McDonald’s Nez Perce wife, Catherine, joined him that fall with her newborn daughter, Christina. They remained at the fort until he was promoted and transferred to Fort Colvile, Washington, in 1852.
His son, Duncan McDonald, then took over the fort. By 1871, the fur trade era had ended, and the trading post closed the following year.
Today, one building remains from the original trading post. It is believed to be the oldest standing building in Montana and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Fort Connah Historic Site also includes two historic log cabins that were moved to the site. These cabins replicate the buildings that once made up the original trading post. It is located between St. Ignatius and Charlo, Montana, on US Highway 93.
By Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated May 2025.
Also See:
Forts & Presidios Across America
See Sources.